Naoko's news, views and shoes thread

[TxRad]

Novels are interesting animals. Sometimes you have to swap the head for the tail or turn the front legs around to make it all work right. I've had several novels where I had to swap whole chapters around to make things smoother. In my first novel, the fourth chapter became the first The third chapter became the fifth and the second chapter became the fourth. And i wrote whole new second and third chapters to tie everything up neatly.

*Uh, no real animals were harmed in the making of this post*

 

[curl4ever]

I am just nipping in, in the midst of finishing off teaching one module, starting another and sewing name labels
...

She found the first two chapters she had to work to stick with it, but from there on she really loved the story and she asked to read the rest of it!

She is kind of my target audience so I am extremely very happy now.



I think I know what to do with the first two chapters. I think it's because I started off on one of the story threads, then I dived straight into another one in the second chapter. I think readers go: "What? Where is the story?" If I lay down some hooks for the second thread in the first chapter, then readers will not feel so lost and at sea, they'll be hooked in to what's going on. They won't be saying: "yes, but what about the first lot? was that all just filler, am I not going to find out about what happens to them?"

Yeaaaa, Naoko!

 

[sheablue]

I am just nipping in, in the midst of finishing off teaching one module, starting another and sewing name labels in a vast array of items of Piglet school uniform. I'm so excited!

I gave the first chunk of my novel to an old schoolfriend to read. I haven't been in touch with her for years, and hooked up recently on Facebook. We got on well, then she suddenly said in a comment: "Do you still write novels?" I rather shyly coughed to the fact that I do, but rather spicier nowadays than my schoolgirl efforts, and she kindly said she would have a look at that beast of a novel I have been wrestling with, re-writing and editing and re-writing for about twenty or thirty years.

I didn't hear from her, so I assumed the story was so bad she didn't have the heart to tell me. However today I got a message to say, she had been slow because her computer was broken. She found the first two chapters she had to work to stick with it, but from there on she really loved the story and she asked to read the rest of it!

She is kind of my target audience so I am extremely very happy now.



I think I know what to do with the first two chapters. I think it's because I started off on one of the story threads, then I dived straight into another one in the second chapter. I think readers go: "What? Where is the story?" If I lay down some hooks for the second thread in the first chapter, then readers will not feel so lost and at sea, they'll be hooked in to what's going on. They won't be saying: "yes, but what about the first lot? was that all just filler, am I not going to find out about what happens to them?"

So exciting! Is this the novel I read part of? I hope you do get a chance to work on it, it's fantastic.

 

[beachbum1958]

.....

 

[NaokoSmith]

OMG! chaps, I am so excited! I have to share my news with you.

I was just plodding along today, trying to get some stuff done in preparation for this load of extra marking work I took on (have to go to a meeting this Saturday in the Most Boring Town in Britain). As usual it was all serene order in my life: I have Manflu, I had luckily got yesterday free to recover in time for the Marking Meeting in the Most Boring Town, as Piglet was due to go to the Fella's. But then of course the school phoned at 10.30 to say could I come and get Piglet as she was all white and trembly, so I had to get out of bed and rush down there in the car (hoping the clutch is OK really, and I didn't burn it out while parking on a 45 degree slope the other day), and instead of a nice recuperative rest I had Piglet on my hands for two (or if I am really lucky three) days. I was frantically trying to make sure my students all got their work in, as the deadline for their submissions is today and tomorrow. I suddenly got an email asking me to a telephone interview on Monday for a higher level module, which would be nice - but Monday! three days to prepare? while juggling all my other work, oh wait, they have kindly said they will let interviewees have the weekend to prepare as well .

No, no, getting the interview is not the good news!


I got a phone call out of the blue to say that they have got some extra students on this really nice postgraduate education module which I was interviewed for last year, and would I like to teach on it - starting in October!!!


OK, more soon - I must get back to my dull marking stuff now, and then cooking something nourishing for Piglet (chips).

 

[TxRad]

See what happens when you rock the boat.

 

[sheablue]

Fantastic news!!!

 

[curl4ever]

Woo-hoo!

Yeaaaaaaah, Naoko!





+

 

[Handley_Page]

OMG! chaps, I am so excited! I have to share my news with you.
I suddenly got an email asking me to a telephone interview on Monday for a higher level module, which would be nice - but Monday! three days to prepare? while juggling all my other work, oh wait, they have kindly said they will let interviewees have the weekend to prepare as well .

I got a phone call out of the blue to say that they have got some extra students on this really nice postgraduate education module which I was interviewed for last year, and would I like to teach on it - starting in October!!!

OK, more soon - I must get back to my dull marking stuff now, and then cooking something nourishing for Piglet (chips).

Good for you, Naoko. After the sweat you've put in, you damned well deserve it.
One thought though.

Does this mean the same idiot Manager ?
:caning:

 

[R. Richard]

Congrats Naoko!

 

[stickygirl]

Poor Piglet
Our Uni takes about £225,000,000 in student fees a year - just a random blurtfact.

Honestly, I don't understand how more work makes you happy Are you dropping some less desirable ones? I'm pleased your pleased but me confuserled xx

 

[oggbashan]

Congratulations, Naoko! I hope this means you will have a stable income.

Best wishes for Piglet's recovery.

And good luck for the interview. We know you can do it - go and convince them you can.

x 4

 

[NaokoSmith]

Thank you all, guys!



Yes, this means I will have a secure job. I will have two contracts from February to September, and two that run from October to March, so if I am ever in danger of losing one of them, that will mean I have protected status on the other one. That should see me through now til 2018, when the university have promised very faithfully to give us all permanent contracts.

I'll have a more regular income year round. I'll lose a bit of the benefit money I currently get, but I'll still have more than I would have had without the work, and I might even be able to afford to replace my boiler if I'm very good! although I might have to be very good to do that.

I'm also excited because I currently teach Level 1. For many of my students this is the first time they have done any studying for decades, and so we have to work hard with them on their study skills. The module I'm going to start teaching now is a postgraduate module! It will be a lot more intellectually interesting and the students will be much more advanced. Instead of being like kindergarten social science, it might actually mean using some of my own research to teach from! I can't do that at the moment as my research is way too advanced for Level 1 students.

I will do my best for the interview on Monday too! In a way, I might do better now as I will be more relaxed. If I get offered that one, I'll take it as I could so do with the money, but I will be a bit , as that would mean I have to study two new and more advanced modules - in order to teach them.

Well, revenez a nos moutons! TX, the process you described is just what I have had to do with my novel. I have actually got it to the stage now where I think I may finally have cracked it and made it work. I'm going to take it away with me over the weekend to the boring marking meeting, and read it on the train and in the hotel in the boring town. Hopefully I'll finally be happy with it and give it to a couple of people to receive their blessing, then I can send it out to seek my fortune! (Well, enough to buy a Pink Margarita at my favourite cocktail bar.)


PS, you guys were the first people I told my good news to. I was so excited! I so much wanted to share it with the people who mean most to me. I could tell Piglet straightaway, as she was malingering here with me. Then I just rushed in here to tell you.

 

[stickygirl]

Now I understand - sheesh.
Maybe I could get another job
and thank you for telling us so soon: you know it is appreciated! and good luck with the interview(s) - you're on a roll, breeze it

 

[NaokoSmith]

Now I understand - sheesh.
Maybe I could get another job
and thank you for telling us so soon: you know it is appreciated! and good luck with the interview(s) - you're on a roll, breeze it

Of course you could get another job! if you want one? I get the impression you are highly valued in your job, so if you want to progress in it, you could talk to your line managers.

Whereas I try hard to hide my career ambitions from my line manager, as I am confident he will stamp all over them if he gets a sniff of what I'm doing. I have some stories about him! but they will wait. I'm enjoying work at the moment.


Oh, another thing - this module is in Education, so I'm wondering if I could ask to have a Line Manager who is in Education instead of Social Sciences.

 

[stickygirl]

No I mean get four jobs like you
five if you count Piglet rearing

should you get a line manager qualified in Religious Education, then when you shout "Oh For God's Sake!" down the phone, he/she'll take as a compliment

 

[NaokoSmith]

No I mean get four jobs like you
five if you count Piglet rearing

Rearing Piglet is my main job, everything else is just a hobby!

Remember how the Fella wanted to be 'primary parent' on the school form? Today I phoned up to see if he wanted to come round and visit his sickly child. "Not if you are both still infectious," he said.

I knew this was probably not a joke! so I said we might be, and he didn't come! He said he has to go on a Very Important Expotition next week, and doesn't want to be poorly for it.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I suddenly got an email asking me to a telephone interview on Monday for a higher level module, which would be nice - but Monday! three days to prepare? while juggling all my other work, oh wait, they have kindly said they will let interviewees have the weekend to prepare as well .

No, no, getting the interview is not the good news!


I got a phone call out of the blue to say that they have got some extra students on this really nice postgraduate education module which I was interviewed for last year, and would I like to teach on it - starting in October!!!

Yaaay!

 

[Bramblethorn]

I knew this was probably not a joke! so I said we might be, and he didn't come! He said he has to go on a Very Important Expotition next week, and doesn't want to be poorly for it.

Good luck to him finding the East Pole

 

[NaokoSmith]

Yaaay!

I know! Still v. happy about it.

Good luck to him finding the East Pole

Well, he's going to Germany - so he might meet a few Poles.


OK, it is that time of night when lots of things seem funny. Or horribly sad.

I am in the Most Boring Town in the Universe, in a very dull hotel. At least I was able to go out to Wagamamas and have decent food, and there is a not-very-good pool here so I can have a swim tomorrow morning before I go to my marking meeting.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, I am completely unable to sleep. This week I have:
- Been ill, and hampered in recuperating by
- Having Piglet on my hands ALL WEEK , poor little brat, every day she got up early and tried to put on her uniform, and looking at her pale face and glittering eyes I had to force her to go back to bed.
- Been offered an interview for only five days' time, and had to prepare (extensively) including write a presentation. (Interviewers kindly said we could have the weekend to do this, except I can't as I have had to come all the way up here for this meeting tomorrow.)
- Complained to union about above short notice of interview, and they are going to raise the issue with Senior Management.
- Got the new job, and drawn up my proposed timetable, chatted on email with new colleagues etc. Amazing! this lot have arranged a pre-course meeting which we get paid a little extra money to attend, so that we can co-ordinate!!! We are not even teaching as a team, just on the same module. :cool
- Whereas Stupid Basturd Line Manager sent us out a third tutorial timetable which is completely different to the other two he had already agreed with us, except for being a total pig's ear just like they were, and a lacksadaisical email saying we should sort out our work ourselves. I emailed my colleagues to ask if they want to get together and talk about how to do this, but none of them replied to me. I think I am just not going to bother this year, and let the teaching descend into chaos, because
- Finally the person looking into my claim that Stupid Basturd had misinterpreted the university teaching policy got back to say No, the policy is as stupid as Stupid Basturd said. In fact, stupider.

Really, I don't know whether I'm ecstatic because I got this great new teaching contract - which BTW, is completely outwith Stupid Basturd's purview. It makes me feel so comfortable as it's the second one I've got that he has no influence over. Or am I upset because the teaching of the other module is going to be very difficult and I can't see how to deliver on it.

Basically, it looks like the new university policy on teaching means that regional line managers can tell us to teach in any combination they feel like. They can make us teach together in pairs to different student groups, or separately to our own student group, or separately but to different student groups ... which considering it was supposed to lead to more equal provision to students is rather disappointing!

I am disappointed because I can see even more clearly how much power a bad line manager has to make our lives difficult. And I am a bit upset because it's plain to me that the person handling my complaint has either not been told, or has ignored, my original request that it be handled in confidence. So Stupid Basturd knows all about who it was who shopped him up to the Big Boys.

Still, luckily now much of my work is out of his control, and I won't be in so much need of the small day contracts which he is able to give out to people now that I've got the new teaching contract. And he knows the Big Boys are watching him, so I would be very surprised if he were stupid enough to take it out on me.

But it's not surprising I can't sleep, is it!


Oh well. Here is a lovely glass of Prosecco I had to celebrate my new contract. I had a plum wine, too, and when I got back to the hotel I had a 12 yo Glenfiddich - I'm afraid that was the best whisky they had. Luckily the tax credit for my being a hard-working Piglet-minder appeared magically in my bank account yesterday, so I can spoil myself a little and still pay for the roof to be mended.

(That was another thing I had to try to get sorted this week. And of course there was laundry. Lots of laundry ...)

 

[NaokoSmith]

I forgot to add that I got almost all my students through their final assignment this week, too. One poor one didn't make it . I tried to phone and email her, but something must have happened, her number was unobtainable.

Another one managed to get her assignment submitted even though she was in hospital ten days ago, pregnant with complications. Luckily her baby turned so she was able to have a natural birth. But while she was giving birth, her stepdad, for whom she was the main carer, passed away. And his kids have not even invited her to the funeral

Unsurprisingly she has struggled a bit with her assignment - even though she took her text books into hospital with her However since she has got something in, she will be able to resubmit in a couple of months with my help, if she doesn't manage to scrape through this time.


If I stay awake another hour and a half, I can go for a swim!

 

[SamScribble]

If I stay awake another hour and a half, I can go for a swim!

Sleep, Naoko. Sleep.

 

[stickygirl]

I hope the hotel has croissants and decent coffee... Oh, dear Naoko, if you weren't such a conscientious person, none of this would trouble you.
( I have no excuse for being awake so early except it's been so hot at night this week.)

 

[NaokoSmith]

Sleep, Naoko. Sleep.

I really tried! but sometimes sleep just doesn't come to you.

I turned the heel on the sock I'm knitting, anyway - so that's something. And I have pretty much finished my presentation for the interview on Monday.

I hope the hotel has croissants and decent coffee... Oh, dear Naoko, if you weren't such a conscientious person, none of this would trouble you.
( I have no excuse for being awake so early except it's been so hot at night this week.)

Awww, thanks. *Sniffles* I feel better about myself now. Sometimes I wonder if my colleagues don't curse me for stirring up the mud, though! I'm sure they do. I should be more like them and just try to get on with it and gloat over the pennies I get for it. Perhaps I would be more gloat-y if there were a few more pennies in the deal No - that's not fair, really. I get paid very well compared to many other people. I over-work because I'm not contracted for enough hours to skimp things a bit like everyone-else does.

Well I got up and rushed down to the pool, and there was a big sign saying it doesn't open til 6.45!!! They lied to me, grrrr.

Anyway, now I can go - as it's 6.41.

Me, wet

 

[stickygirl]

Me, wet

Naoko!!
You should know better than come out with things like that as this time in the morning
I'm blushing here